Agreed, Bana10. Hubert Ingraham, who was severely ill informed and laughably out of his depth as PM, in 2000, got awfully bad advice from 'bumbling' Bill Allen and the greedy Higgs & Johnson law firm to change our legislation. It was absolutely the wrong move at the time - and a transgression that we are still paying for over 20 years later.
In all of the Bahamians yapping about numbers boys, Shane Gibson, corruption, Brent Symonette, corruption, blah, blah, blah, we have missed this awful situation, caused by H&J and Hubbigity, which, in my view, is the most significant event that has happened to the Bahamas post-Pindling. It is no hyperbole to suggest that what we did in 2000 caused us to move toward Mauritius and Jamaica (in terms of financial services) instead of moving toward Singapore, Estonia and Malta (who, btw when faced with blacklisting in 2000, told the OECD to 'go to hell'). This is and will continue to be a travesty for us. The damage is done, we are and will remain a 3rd world, banana republic country - again, unlike Malta, etc. who are 2nd world heading for 1st world status.
Porcupine, why are you concerned with how I spend my money? If I want to waste my money on gambling - a legal entity, now - I should be willing to do so. If I want to waste my weekly and small cheque on alcohol, why is that your concern? If I want to stay poor, that is my prerogative Are you advocating the government make our money choices for us?
I do agree with your point, however, that they should pay more taxes. Of course, that raises the issue of whether said increase tax is prejudicial to numbers houses, who - lets not forget - are now legal entities and are afforded protection under the law - whether we like it or not.
Forgive me if I am wrong, Tal, but the new order does not classify numbers boys as "essential", but rather the order offers any business, essential or not, that can offer curbside service, the ability to open...such as liquor stores, who also were not deemed essential. So, not quite sure you are accurate here. I stand to be corrected, though.
One has nothing, or rather, very little to do with the other. And, let us not forget, whether we like them or not, the numbers boys are now a legal entity and are entitled, under law, to the same protections and treatment as any other lawful business.
Hoda, I understand your point, which is fair - and that is what the alphabet soup agencies have said to us, i.e. we haven't prosecuted much AML/CFT cases. But it is kind of a double edged sword isn't it. Our relatively new laws focus on prevention of AML, via filings with the FIU/Securities Commission, et. al. So we want to stop AML/CFT issues before they start, not prosecute it after the event transpired. So if we can show empirically, and I believe we can, that we have prevented issues, we should receive more credit than if we prosecute after the illegality occurs. But of course, the alphabet soup people do not give us credit for that - which is where the unfairness and fallacy of their accusations are apparent. Put simply, they are downgrading us for stopping the murder, rather than us allowing the murder and then putting the guilty party in jail. That is preposterous. Also, I know you said you didn't want to inject politics, but I have to deal with the point you make linking PLP to corruption. Most of the companies that appeared in the Panama Papers (Bahamas related) were formed between 1998-2003 - the FNM's time in office. Plus, let us not forget that, to date, the only people in The Bahamas that have been prosecuted for corruption - something the alphabet agencies are so fond of - have been FNM's. So, let us not point fingers solely at the PLP.
Hate on Brave all you want (not literally saying that you do that - though you do), but when it comes to matters of law, he is usually surprisingly astute.
tetelestai says...
To your credit, Joeblow, you did offer that solution. And, yes, the tribune comment yappers did 'lynch' you for the recommendation.
On Wanted: 12 missing from quarantine
Posted 8 May 2020, 12:55 p.m. Suggest removal
tetelestai says...
Agreed, Bana10. Hubert Ingraham, who was severely ill informed and laughably out of his depth as PM, in 2000, got awfully bad advice from 'bumbling' Bill Allen and the greedy Higgs & Johnson law firm to change our legislation. It was absolutely the wrong move at the time - and a transgression that we are still paying for over 20 years later.
In all of the Bahamians yapping about numbers boys, Shane Gibson, corruption, Brent Symonette, corruption, blah, blah, blah, we have missed this awful situation, caused by H&J and Hubbigity, which, in my view, is the most significant event that has happened to the Bahamas post-Pindling. It is no hyperbole to suggest that what we did in 2000 caused us to move toward Mauritius and Jamaica (in terms of financial services) instead of moving toward Singapore, Estonia and Malta (who, btw when faced with blacklisting in 2000, told the OECD to 'go to hell'). This is and will continue to be a travesty for us. The damage is done, we are and will remain a 3rd world, banana republic country - again, unlike Malta, etc. who are 2nd world heading for 1st world status.
On Our foot’s on your neck, EU warns
Posted 8 May 2020, 12:31 p.m. Suggest removal
tetelestai says...
I ask this in all seriousness, shouldnt we just reopen the country now?
On Auto dealer: 'Level the playing field'
Posted 7 May 2020, 5:18 p.m. Suggest removal
tetelestai says...
Porcupine, why are you concerned with how I spend my money? If I want to waste my money on gambling - a legal entity, now - I should be willing to do so. If I want to waste my weekly and small cheque on alcohol, why is that your concern? If I want to stay poor, that is my prerogative Are you advocating the government make our money choices for us?
I do agree with your point, however, that they should pay more taxes. Of course, that raises the issue of whether said increase tax is prejudicial to numbers houses, who - lets not forget - are now legal entities and are afforded protection under the law - whether we like it or not.
On Web shops back with curb-side, drive through
Posted 7 May 2020, 10:14 a.m. Suggest removal
tetelestai says...
Forgive me if I am wrong, Tal, but the new order does not classify numbers boys as "essential", but rather the order offers any business, essential or not, that can offer curbside service, the ability to open...such as liquor stores, who also were not deemed essential. So, not quite sure you are accurate here. I stand to be corrected, though.
On Web shops back with curb-side, drive through
Posted 7 May 2020, 10:10 a.m. Suggest removal
tetelestai says...
One has nothing, or rather, very little to do with the other. And, let us not forget, whether we like them or not, the numbers boys are now a legal entity and are entitled, under law, to the same protections and treatment as any other lawful business.
On Web shops back with curb-side, drive through
Posted 7 May 2020, 10:08 a.m. Suggest removal
tetelestai says...
Hoda, I understand your point, which is fair - and that is what the alphabet soup agencies have said to us, i.e. we haven't prosecuted much AML/CFT cases. But it is kind of a double edged sword isn't it. Our relatively new laws focus on prevention of AML, via filings with the FIU/Securities Commission, et. al. So we want to stop AML/CFT issues before they start, not prosecute it after the event transpired. So if we can show empirically, and I believe we can, that we have prevented issues, we should receive more credit than if we prosecute after the illegality occurs. But of course, the alphabet soup people do not give us credit for that - which is where the unfairness and fallacy of their accusations are apparent. Put simply, they are downgrading us for stopping the murder, rather than us allowing the murder and then putting the guilty party in jail. That is preposterous. Also, I know you said you didn't want to inject politics, but I have to deal with the point you make linking PLP to corruption. Most of the companies that appeared in the Panama Papers (Bahamas related) were formed between 1998-2003 - the FNM's time in office. Plus, let us not forget that, to date, the only people in The Bahamas that have been prosecuted for corruption - something the alphabet agencies are so fond of - have been FNM's. So, let us not point fingers solely at the PLP.
On "Tell Europe that enough is enough"
Posted 7 May 2020, 10:03 a.m. Suggest removal
tetelestai says...
Hate on Brave all you want (not literally saying that you do that - though you do), but when it comes to matters of law, he is usually surprisingly astute.
On Davis: Former minister did not act on his own
Posted 6 May 2020, 11:49 p.m. Suggest removal
tetelestai says...
THIS!
On Bahamas faces 'IMF programme by 2021'
Posted 6 May 2020, 11:42 p.m. Suggest removal
tetelestai says...
Oh, enough with the PLP nonsense. Its 3 years later. If that is still the excuse, then the FNM were/are not worthy of our votes.
On Bahamas faces 'IMF programme by 2021'
Posted 6 May 2020, 11:41 p.m. Suggest removal